Katy Batdorff | The Grand Rapids PressSuperintendent Bill Smith answers questions from Kent City High School students after he gave a lecture about some organizational changes being made in the area schools last year.

KENT CITY – Kent City Board of Education members say they're open to sharing a superintendent with another district to replace out-going Superintendent Bill Smith.

“We're open to sharing a superintendent – and busing and food service and anything else,” board President Bruce Hawley said Tuesday. “It all has to be on the table as we look at ways to deal with a $470-per student cut in state funding.”

Wyoming and neighboring Godwin Heights have shared Jon Felske as school chief for the past two years, though that might not last as Felske is interviewing for Muskegon Public Schools' top post.

Smith, 42, was tapped by the Kent Intermediate School District to be assistant superintendent for instruction and technology, a position created to replace Bill Mieras, assistant superintendent of organizational development and planning, and Marcia Logie, assistant superintendent of teaching and learning. The two administrators plan to retire this year.

“It was a hard decision,” Smith said. “Kent City has been a very good place to be. My kids go to school here. The staff is great. We’ve made a lot of progress. But to be part of the big-picture fix for schools in the ISD was too great an opportunity to pass up.”

Smith came to Kent City, the county’s smallest enrollment district with 1,300 students, in June 2008 after serving as principal of Howell High School. He previously worked at Farmington High School.

Hawley said he believes Smith will thrive in his new role. He credited Smith with helping the district initiate new programs, including a recent project to get federal grants for computers for all high school students.

He said the board will meet soon to plot a course, and is working with former Forest Hills Superintendent Michael Washburn as a consultant.

Hawley said district resident are “worried about being swallowed up” in consolidation, but believes they'd be willing to consider sharing services and a superintendent with neighboring Sparta or Cedar Springs.

He said the combined enrollment of the three districts would still be smaller than nearby Rockford. Kent City has three schools.

“There are a lot of possibilities that we can consider,” Hawley said. “I want to start by talking to our employee groups and hearing their ideas. And I want to talk with people I know on those other boards to see what they think. We're all looking at changes with these budget cuts.”

Sparta Superintendent Kent Swinson said the districts already share a number of services, including some business and technology functions. Sparta and Cedar Springs share a transportation director, and Cedar Springs and Kent City share a food service director.

“I think the districts here in northern Kent County have been among the leaders when it comes to working together,” Swinson said. “There are growing pains, but we're working through them. We're learning to walk before we start running.”

Smith expects to start in the summer, and his new salary has not been negotiated. He is paid about $120,000 to guide Kent City.